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August 15, 2005
The Internet Spoke, and It Said That Christopher Walken is Running for President.
The internet tells me that Christopher Walken is running for president in 2008. According to a press release on the"official" Christopher Walken for President 2008 campaign website, the actor announced his intentions at a private conference last week. Because of current filming obligations, the campaign will keep a relatively low profile, possibly until early 2007. Walken's agent says that there are no plans for "going national" with the news in "the immediate future."
Okay, so, actually it's part of an elaborate prank by an online forum (or so says a Christopher Walken Fan Club!). But, let's be honest. Questions of authenticity aside, this is fun!
First, you have the initial reaction. How do you feel about a man renowned for playing psychologically troubled characters sitting in the Oval Office?
Then, there's the sweet recursive nature of the acceptance-and-suspicion of both traditional and online media. At least on some level, this hoax perpetuated its aura of believability because of bloggers' recent success in one-upping newspapers and television news. The pranksters used this blog-as-a-news-source explosion to their definite advantage. As I write this, "Christopher Walken" is the number two search on Technorati. Still, even with over 5,000 blogs (both believing and disbelieving) posting about our newest presidential candidate, my reflex was to Google the news, looking to find affirmation or denial of the claims from a traditionally-accepted source.
And, finally, there's the stylistic delight of campaign writing. I love good political copy:
Choice quotes include Walken's agent, Toni Howard:
Mr. Walken has greatly admired the celebrities who have entered politics and he wants to be able to give a good name and reputation to the acting community as well as the political community."
As well as from the brief online bio:
Having residences both in rural Connecticut and upper-west Manhattan, he sees that all walks of life are becoming disgruntled and apathetic towards the American government, and feels a duty, as a child of the American public, to restore the peace, prosperity, and greatness of the United States.
And the man himself, explaining why he wants to be a politician:
That is what I love to be, a man of respect and love
The lesson to be gleaned from this fiasco is clear: having your high school civics class create fake presidential campaign websites would be a fantastic group writing project.
Culture, Yo , Writing | By elissa | 10:52 AM
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Comments
Christopher Walken should definately run for the presidency in '08. The people love him and he can dance like nobody's business.
Posted by: Mister Dootz at August 15, 2005 10:28 AM
Hooorah! I'm definitely putting one of his stickers on the back of my Land Rover.
Posted by: The Puman at August 15, 2005 10:34 AM
The whole thing is even funnier if you imagine it read aloud in a Christopher Walken voice: "That is what. I love to. Be, a man of. Respect and. Love."
Posted by: mesh at August 15, 2005 03:28 PM
